Many wonder what being a substitute teacher is like. Two high school and junior high substitutes, Mary Mueller and Sara Wright, talked about their experiences in substituting. Mueller, before becoming a substitute teacher, was a junior high librarian for thirty years.

“This is my sixth year to be subbing. I can’t think of any disadvantages; I really like it. It’s is fun. Everyday is different. You get to meet with students and be around students, and just it’s just very interesting to do something different everyday,” Mueller said.

In addition to having fun and being around students, there’s a lot of flexibility.
“You get a lot of choice over the days you work. You can fit it in with your own schedule,” Mueller said.

Mueller substitutes for both Rolla Junior High and High school, and said that there’s a little difference between substituting between the junior high kids and high school kids.

“Students are little more mature at the high school. Other than that, they are all pretty good kids,” Mueller said.

Often, when teachers are gone, they will put on a movie or give their students a work day. Mueller explained how she passes the time during the day.

“I sometimes read; if the teacher has left things that I can grade, I sometimes try to grade things for them so they can come back and have some of their work done. [I] kind of keep an eye on what everyone is doing. If there’s a video, I usually watch the video too. [During their plan period,] I usually read. Sometimes if they need help down in the office I can help. I always stay in the building; I don’t leave. I guess you could, but I don’t,” Mueller said.

Sara Wright, a recently retired high school Spanish teacher, has a similar but, slightly different take on substituting.

“It’s nice to be able to come to school, see the students, fill in for a teacher who needs to be gone for some reason, and to be able to walk out without having to take any papers home to grade. I can decide whether I want to come or whether I don’t,” Wright said.

Wright said that she only substitutes for the high school and couldn’t think of any disadvantages to it.

“If I were just subbing, and not as a retired teacher, then I would probably want more days.

Wright has subbed for Mrs. White, two of the secretaries and the Library.

“In the library it’s more relaxed; I’m not in charge of any particular group of students, and subbing for the secretaries I’m dealing with a lot of paperwork. In the regular classroom, then you’re dealing with a whole group of students, you’re in charge of disciplining and making sure the classroom stays focused on the topic,” Wright said.

Wright gives her final thoughts on substituting.

“It’s enjoyable to come back and see the students and encourage them- the ones that I know. After a couple years, I don’t know any of the students. They won’t know me as a teacher. I enjoy coming back and seeing the seniors work toward goals, and ask them what they are gonna be doing, and encourage them,” Wright said.